Time switch attachment for alarm clocks



Dec. 4, 1951 G. J. HINES TIME SWITCH ATTACHMENT FOR ALARM CLOCKS 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed July 7, 1947 v i t! INVENTOR. {fizzy ffizkes Dec. 4, 1951 G. J. HINES 2,577,583

TIME SWITCH ATTACHMENT FOR ALARM CLOCKS Filed July 7, 1947 ZL-SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

J77? rimy I Patented Dec. 4, 1951 TIME SWITCH ATTACHMENT FOR ALARM CLOCKS Glenn J. Hines, Minneapolis, Minn. Application July 7, 1947, Serial No. 759,445

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in time switches and, more particularly, to a time switch attachment for an ordinary alarm clock.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a compact and highly efficient time switch that is applicable to an ordinar alarm clock, as a self-contained unit, to be actuated by the alarm wind key of the clock for turning on or ofi, at a predetermined time, a radio, an incandescent lamp, an electric appliance, an electric machine and the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a highly efiicient time switch that can be manually set to be operated by the alarm wind key of an alarm clock, that turns either clockwise or counter-clockwise while the alarm is sounding.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel time switch that automatically stops the turning of the alarm wind key, during the sounding of the alarm, as soon as the time switch has been actuated by the turning of said wind key.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel means for attaching a time switch unit to an ordinary alarm clock, to be actuated by the alarm wind key thereof, by the use of a screw or other part of the alarm clock.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followin description, reference being had to the drawings.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of an alarm clock to which the-improved time switch is attached;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the time switch with the back section of its case removed to expose the parts of the time switch within the case, the wiring being shown in diagram;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the time switch attachment, some parts being broken away and sectioned and also showing in rear elevation a fragment of the alarm clock;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the time switch attachment with parts of the alarm clock sectioned on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are fragmentary detail views principally in section taken on the lines 5-5, 6-6 and 1-4 of Fig. 2', respectively; and

Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram.

For the purpose of showing the invention in working position, there is shown in the drawings an ordinary alarm clock indicated, as an entirety, by the numeral 9, with the exception of its alarm wind key l0, and the retaining screw H for the back member of the clock. In the wiring diagram, the time switch attachment is shown for turning ofi an incandescent lamp 122, see Fig. 8.

Referring now in detail to the improved time switch attachment for the alarm clock 9, the numeral [3 indicates a rectangular case of suitable insulating material. This case [3 includes a front section l4 and a rear section [5 detachably connected by a nut-equipped bolt IS.

The case [3 is detachably secured to the back member of the clock 9 by a relatively long arm ll having a semi-circular T-head l8 provided with a semi-circular slot i9 that is concentric with the perimeter of said head. In the arm I! is a longitudinal slot 20 and in the back of the case section I5 is a plurality of screw-threaded holes 2| that are equally spaced apart transversely of the case l3.

The T-head I8 is adjustably and detachably pivoted to the case section 15 by a screw 22 that extends through a hole in said head, at the axis thereof, and secured in one of the screw-threaded holes 2|. This T-head I8 is releasably held against pivotal movement on the screw 22 by a second screw 23 that extends through the slot 20, is secured in one of the screw-threaded holes 2| and frictionally clamps the T-head [8 onto the case section I5. The arm H is adjustably and rigidly clamped onto the back member of the clock 9 by the screw l I that extends through the slot 20 in said arm. The purpose of adjustably attaching the arm IT to the case I3 is to adapt said arm for attachment to an alarm clock by one of the screws or other member in the back thereof.

The invention includes an automatic time switch A and a manually operated secondary switch B. The time switch A includes a conductor plate 24 within the case l3 and secured to the case section I4 thereof. This conductor plate 24 is provided with a terminal screw 25 and a contact 26 provided with a terminal screw 21. On the case section I4 is a contact 28 that overlies the conductor plate 24 and provided with a terminal nut-equipped bolt 29. For contact with either one of the contacts 2628 is a movable contact arm 30 pivoted at 31 to the conductor plate 24.

The movable contact arm 30 is operated from the alarm wind key Ill by the following connections, to wit: an insulating shaft 32 having on its inner end a hub 33 provided with a transverse slot 34 into which the alarm wind key 15 loosely extends. Said hub 33 and slot 34 afiord a clutch member. On the outer end of the shaft 32 is a knob 35 by which said shaft may be manually turned to cook the alarm wind key 10. The shaft 32 is further provided with a radial arm 33 connected to the contact arm 30. by a coiled spring 31 held under tension and completes the operating connections from the shaft 32 to the contact arm 30.

The shaft 32 extends transversely of the case. l3 and its front end portion extends through a hole 38 in the case section I4 and said section affords a bearing therefor. 32 is an annular groove 39 into which-the case section l4 extends and holds said shaft against endwise movement relative to the case 13. The hub 33 extends through a hole 45 in the case section 55 and said section afiords a bearing for the hub 33.

On the case. section I4 is a pair of circumferentially spaced stop pins 4! and 52 between which thearm 36 projects. These stop pins 4: and 42 limit the swinging movement of the arm. 36 and hence, he turn g of h h f 32 or h turning of the alarm wind key it during the sounding of the alarm.

As shown in the drawings, the alarm wind key 10 is in cocked po ition, he arm 35 is in engagement with the stop pin 4| and the contact arm 30 is engaging the contact 25. To cook the alarm wind key H], the shaft 32 is manually turned clockwise by the knob 35. The time switch A, as shown in Fig. 8, is closed and the lamp i2 is lit.

When the im has arrived for he soundin of the alarm and the turning off of the lamp 12, the alarm wind key It! is turned by the block mechanism and turn turns the shaft 32 which moves the arm 35 toward the stop pin 42. As the arm 36 moves toward the. stop pin 42, it swings. the spring 3'! past dead center. The tensioned spring 31, having been moved past dead center, draws the contact arm 30 out of engagement with the contact 23 and swings the same into engagement with the contact 23 which opens the time switch A. Th stoppin f th a m 36 by its engagement with the pin 42 also automatically stops the alarm being sounded.

The manu lly op ra ed secondary swi h B includes fixed contacts 43 and 44 in an insulating housing 45 on the case section .4, Th se contacts 43 and 44 have term nal screw as and 41, r sp etively- A conductor arm 8 n the h using 45 is pivoted to the case section I4 by a nutequipped bolt 49 for engagement with either one of the contacts 43 or 44. As shown, the contact arm 43 is in engagement with the fixed contact 43. The alarm wind key turns counter-clockwise when moving from acocked position. For an alarm wind key that turns clockwise from a cocked position, the contact arm 43 will be moved into engagement with the fixed contact 44. On the outer end of the contact arm 48 is an insulating hand-piece 50.

Formed in the shaft Within the case I3 is a pair of spring contacts 5| and 52 secured to said case and having terminal screws 53 and 54, respectively. A lamp cord 55 has wires 56 and 51 to which, at one of their ends, a conventional plug 58 is attached in the customary manner. This plug 53 may be connected to any suitable outlet leading from a source of electrical energy, not shown. The wires 55 and 51, at their other ends, are attached, the former to the terminal screw 49 and the latter to the terminal screw 54.

A wire 59 connects the terminals 25 and 53, a wire it connects the terminals 23 and 4'1, and a wire 55 connects the terminals 2'1 and 43. A lamp cord 62 connects the lamp 12 to the time switch. The wires 53 and 34 of the lamp cord 32 are attached at one of their ends to a coupling plug 65 electrically connected to the spring contacts 5| and 52.

Obviously, in place of; the lamp 1?, a radio, an electric appliance, or an electric machine having in its electric circuit a plug similar to the plug 65 may be connected to the time switch to be turned on or off thereby at a predetermined time.

From the above description, it is evident that the time switch attachment may he very quickly and easily applied to an ordinary alarm clock imply y removing one of the r a nin s r ws fo he b k member h r oi. loosening he screw 23, in inserting the removed retaining screw through the slot and. r p ci the same t r otional y c amp the a m l onto e ba k m m e i the clock and finally in ti hten t e s re 23 to .frictionally c amp th -h a 1. onto the ase to p event pivo al movem nt of sa d head on the screw 2 In applyin the time switch attachment to a clock movement of the case 13 toward the clock, the alarm wind key ID will be inserted into the slot 35 and thus oup e h sha t 32 t he a arm Wind ey.

It will be understood that the invention desc ibed is apable of var ou modifications within the scope of the invention herein disclosed and laimedhat I cla m is:

A time-controlled electric switch in the form of a self-contained unit including a case having means for operating the wind member of an alarm clock, an arm having on one end a head pivoted to the case, said head having a slot on he a e o ae el h ving its center a the axis of t e p v t. f the head. and a set c ew tending through said slot and having threaded ng men wi h the asefor lo k the h agai st piv tal mo m nt. said am h ng a lon itudi al slo for a scr w h ldin the ba k member of the alarm clock in place to attach the case to the alarm clock,

GLENN J. HINES.

REFERENCES CITED The fo lowing efer nces are of re o n th file of this patent: 

